Julie West, specialist residential and commercial property solicitor, explains who the newly formed Home Buying and Selling Group are and what their Pledge could mean for the conveyancing industry.
How to get started buying or selling
This is an unusual time in the residential property market. The shutdown of the market due to Covid-19 delayed demand; continuing pandemic related delays and uncertainty in the market make moving house more than usually unpredictable. Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) concessions have created a surge of transactions that all need to be completed within a tight timescale, to meet the SDLT holiday window that ends 31 March 2021, putting pressure on capacity.
Meanwhile, homeowners looking to sell flats have hit a roadblock, now that an External Wall Survey (EWS-1) fire safety certificate is required where blocks of flats have balconies or external cladding. All of this puts the home buying and selling process under strain and puts people moving home under stress.
The property industry has come together working as the Home Buying and Selling Group (made up of property lawyers, solicitors, removals, surveyors and estate agents) to publish The Home Buying and Selling Pledge. This sets out ways the industry can work with buyers and sellers to ensure that moves progress as quickly and smoothly as possible in challenging times. By making a few changes to the way home movers buy and sell their home the aim is to improve transactions for everyone.
The Pledge is essential reading for anyone involved in moving home and contains advice for consumers and professionals alike. For instance, the Pledge focuses on taking steps at an early stage to save time later on, such as a seller appointing a solicitor and gathering information as soon as a property is put on the market, rather than waiting until terms are agreed. Buyers are encouraged to appoint a conveyancer at the time they make an offer so that ID and money laundering checks can be carried out quickly and not cause delays. Conveyancers acting for sellers are encouraged to proactively check for issues that might cause delays, and find solutions.
Consumers can better understand what’s involved in the home buying process if they read the excellent free guides How to Buy and How to Sell. These useful, practical guides are published to try and improve moving home, by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, with input from the Home Buying and Selling Group.
Residential and commercial property solicitor Julie West
At Julie West Solicitors we work with our clients and proactively manage transactions to ensure delays are minimised. In these difficult times, we will do everything we can, within our control, to ensure the process of home selling and buying keeps moving. We recommend our clients take a look at the Pledge.
For more information about the Julie West Solicitors conveyancing service:
Housing Minister Christopher Pincher MP said:
“I welcome this pledge from the industry and look forward to seeing it deliver a smoother and more efficient experience for all those looking to buy or sell their home.”
The Home Buying and Selling Group includes those involved in the home buying and selling process such as agents, surveyors, removals and property conveyancers. These include, among others, the Law Society, the Conveyancing Association, CILEx, Licensed Conveyancers, RICS, the Property Ombudsman. The pledge applies to moving home in England and Wales.